Cobham Enables Airbus A400M Air-to-Air Refuelling Flight Demonstrations

August 29, 2014

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Cobham's 908E air to air refuelling pods have successfully demonstrated the ability to transfer fuel from the Airbus A400M to a Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet with a series of probe to drogue contacts during recent flight trials in Seville, Spain.  Throughout the flight tests 33 dry contacts were made and 18.6 tonnes of fuel were passed in 35 wet contacts.

Designed for quick role change, the latest generation 908E Wing Dispense Equipment provides the A400M with an extension to it enormous flexibility by converting the aircraft into a highly effective tanker.

With a basic fuel capacity of 50.8 tonnes which can be increased by the use of extra cargo hold tanks, the A400M is the most capable tactical tanker in the market. The standard A400M aircraft has full provisions for Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) operations already installed as standard and only requires the rapid installation of the optional air-to-air refuelling kit to become a tanker. Designed from the outset to be a dual-role transport and tanker aircraft, the A400M provides air forces with a cost-effective way to acquire an air-to-air refuelling capability in addition to a versatile logistic and tactical airlifter.

Source : Cobham